Gold-saving apparatus



(No Model.)

0. P. WILSON 8: LG. GIFPORD.

GOLD SAVING APPARATUS.

No. 308,723. Patented Dec. 2, 1884;

UNiTnn STATES ATENT rrrcE.

CHARLES P. \VILSON AND LEONARD G. GIFFORD, OF OANDELARIA, NEVADA.

GO LD-SAVING APPARATUS.

.EPECITEICATiQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,723, dated December 2, 1884.

Application filed September 12, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES P. Wilson and LEONARD G. GILFFORD, of Gandelaria, county of Esmeralda, and State of Nevada, have invented an Improvement in Gold-Saving Apparatus; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to a new and useful apparatus for saving fine gold; and it consists in a suitable inclined riffle-table provided with a feed-box and a discharge-trough, and in a peculiar inclined sprinkling or waterdropping table placed above the riffle-table and provided with a supply-box and discharge-trough, as we shall hereinafter more fully describe by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our apparatus. Fig. 2 is a section of the upper or dropping table.

The object of our invention is to provide an apparatus in which the auriferous sand,earth,

or gravel is kept in a constant and perfect state of agitation upon the riffle-table by means of a gentle shower of clear water sprinkled directly upon it from atable above.

A is the lower floor or table, mounted upon and braced by suitable clamping-timbers, B. The table has a slight inclination from one side, at which the perforated feed-box O is located, down to the other side, where the discharge-trough D is placed, and its surface is provided with longitudinal rifflcs a, thus forming a number of parallel channels, in

which quicksilver, a, is deposited. At one corner of an end of each of the channels is aplugged opening, a, by which the amalgam is drawn off.

E is the upper table, supported by the stem (1- ards F in a plane parallel with that of the lower or riffle table, B, and it has about the same area as said table. At the upper edge of table E is a perforated supply-box, G, and at its lower edge is a discharge-trough, H. Both tables are provided at each end with cleats I, which form guards and direct the contents of the tables over their surfaces.

In the table E are made small apertures 0, arranged in any suitable manner and in considerable numbers. These {are countersunk or enlarged, as shown, on the upper surface, and bulge on the lower surface. They may be thus constructed by a series of small tubes, the upper ends of which are sunk below the upper surface, and their lower ends project below the under surface of the table; or they may be made of the material of the table by hollowing out their tops and rounding off their projecting lower ends to form small conical protuberances, as shown in the drawings, the object in any case being to provide an easy entrance above, and a certain, clear, and distinct discharge below. The protuberances effect this result below by preventing the water from spreading over the under surface of the table, and causing it to form into distinct drops, which fall directly where intended.

The operation of our apparatus is as follows: The precious sand, earth, or gravel, with sufficient water to reduce it to a liquid consistency, is fed into box 0, from which it flows through its perforated side upon and over the surface of the table A in a thin layer. Clear water is supplied to box G above, and flows from it over the surface of table E. Finding the apertures 6, it passes through and falls in distinct drops upon and into the layer ofprecious sand, earth, or gravel below, and keeps it in a constant and perfect state of agitation, from which it results that the lighter and worthless portions, or gangue, 7 as it is called, pass or float over the rifties, and finally reaching the trough D are discharged. The heavier and precious particles remain, being caught by the riffles and taken up by the quicksilver. The excess of water supplied to the upper table is carried off by trough H, and may be used again.

The apparatus is of course applicable for saving other particles than gold, for whatever ore be worked. the free particles of greater specific gravity may be saved.

The tables may be made of any suitable material-wood or metal.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. A goldsaving apparatus consisting of the inclined rifile-table A, with longitudinal riflles, and having a perforated feed-box, G,

at its upper side, and'a discharge-trough, D, at its lower side, and the inclined sprinklingtable E above, having a perforated supplyboX, G, at its upper side, and a dischargetrough, H, at its lower side, substantially as herein described.

2. .In a goldsaving apparatus, a rifile-table upon which the precious material is fed, said table being provided with longitudinal riffles and suitable outlet-openings, in combination with a table, E, provided with apertures or passages e, countersunk or enlarged at their upper ends and projecting below the under surface of said table, and a perforated supplyboX for supplying water to the table, for the purpose herein set forth.

3. In a gold-saving apparatus having a riftle-table upon which the precious earth, sand, or gravel is fed, the table E above said riffle-table, and having apertures or passages e, countersunk or enlarged at their upper ends,

and projecting below the under surface ofthe table E, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

4. In a gold-saving apparatus, the inclined table A, having riffles a, a feed-box, O, and a discharge-trough, D, in combination with the ,inclined table E above, having apertures or CHARLES P. WVILSON. LEONARD G. GIFFORD.

'Witn esses:

J. S. J ONES, B. A. GAMBLE. 

